Zapwater client ForYourParty.com provided the cocktail napkins, candy bags, stir sticks and other products for the “sweet” day. Here are just some of the photos from the adorable magazine spread. For more details or to purchase similar products, visit www.foryourparty.com.

They say there are two things you can expect in life: death and taxes. Something else you can expect? Moving. Between finding a home, hiring movers, sorting, tossing, more sorting, taping, packing, more sorting, more tossing; then unloading, sorting again, unpacking, re-sorting (you get the point), moving can be a stressful (and painful) process.
Lucky me: I just moved.

Luckier for me: I had a ton of help via movers and a too-kind/patient boyfriend to ease said pain and was so eager to get into a new space and make it my own. Having only lived in the quaint Lincoln Park borough since moving to Chicago two years ago, I was excited to make my way to the downtown Gold Coast area. My new digs are perfect for me and I fell in love with the building and apartment unit the moment I walked in and took a tour. It’s everything I’ve always wanted: vintage high-rise, three blocks from the Magnificent Mile (danger! Danger!) and has a roof that showcases the surrounding skyscrapers that glitter when the sun sets.

The challenge? Make this space as “me” as possible. When I moved to Chicago from D.C., my then-roommate already had everything, so I never Caroline-ized the house on my own. With generous space to work with in the new digs, I had ample room to fill with things I love: family keepsakes, books, vintage and hand-me-down furniture, eclectic photographs and warm-feeling décor.

I’m thrilled with the finished product. From the “Doors of Ireland” and Michigan/Chicago-inspired images adorning the walls to the red accents, the framed heartfelt note from my mom to the compulsively organized walk-through closet, this place screams “Caroline.” When I say that I never want to move, it’s not because I hated packing/unpacking: it’s because I made a space a home. Check it out!

I love being tan. Not overly tan, but my natural skin color is quite pale, so I love having that sun-kissed glow. I admit that in high school and college I visited tanning salons and would ‘fake bake.’ Now that I’ve gotten older, I’m appalled that I did that to my skin and actually wish that I’d listened to my mom on that one.

I’ve grown wiser in the fact that I’m very conscious of the UVA/UVB rays I expose myself to but when the summer season hits I can’t help it; I want to be tan! Through this quest, I have tried various self tanners, sun blocks, etc. so I’ve compiled a few of my favorites below. I hope these help you achieve a golden glow without the trial-and-error of streaks and orange skin that I experienced testing the many products out there!

Zapwater has a fairly mobile office and it’s not uncommon to hop around from office to office for a change of scenery. Luckily, there are some pretty fascinating people that work here and there is always something new to learn about the person one desk away. Stephanie Poquette likes to collect vintage books and Michael Corrigan was once a roller-coaster enthusiast. Who knew?

But when I was presented with the question, “what is something not a lot of people know about you,” I had to stop and think.

When it comes down to it, I don’t have a wacky hobby or crazy curated collection. What I do have is a profound appreciation of and fascination with Marilyn Manson. Yes, the controversial rock star that fancies himself half glamour goddess and half American criminal. (Don’t jump to conclusions; I share a similar affinity for Britney Spears and Phil Collins.) Call it pre-teen rebellion, but back in 1996 something about him caught my attention and has held it since. Picture an eleven-year-old girl decorating her school locker with a picture of the less than handsome rocker. Imagine my mother’s concern when a school mate let me borrow a copy of the latest Marilyn Manson CD. She took one look at the lyric sheet and demanded I return it the following day.

Then in the winter of 2000, Marilyn Manson announced a show at an exhibition hall in Peoria. Seeing as my mother would not allow me to go alone and none of my friends could identify, my sister Erin offered to come to the show with me. We certainly were not the typical Marilyn Manson concert-goers. As an attempt to not be a poser but also not stick out like a sore thumb, I wore boots, jeans, a gray sweater and a winter coat. I outfit blended in just fine, but I’m pretty sure my smiling face gave me away. Erin and I stayed safely on the outskirts of the crowd, just close enough to witness his infamous stilts. In the end, nothing outrageous occurred, just some Goths rocking out to loud music.

Come 2011, I’ve swapped my Rolling Stone magazine photos with pictures of my friends and family and my concert list includes David Gray and Ray Lamontagne.

But just a few weeks ago I added some old Marilyn Manson CDs to my iTunes (my mom is cool with me owning them now) and I still let out a small shriek when beautiful people comes on the radio…or the Marc Jacobs 2011 F/W runway show.

Inspired by the lovely Stephanie Poquette’s love of vintage book I decided to focus my monthly blog on a secret passion of mine. People who know me can attest to my love of buffalo wings, man bags, and Britney Spears. Many would be surprised to know that I am actually an avid roller coaster fan. My love of coasters started at an early age. Raised in Ohio I was given the opportunity to frequently visit Cedar Point, which is known for having more roller coasters than any other theme park in the world. I still recall how excited I would get the night before, often having trouble falling asleep.

Over the years I chose a roller coaster engineer for grade school career day and was an active member of ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts). I was quick to read about the latest coasters, often drew many of my own designs, and would always insist on sitting in the front row
With summer around the corner it only means one thing: Coaster Season. It seemed fitting for me to enlighten readers of the Zapwater Blog with my Top 3 Favorite Coasters!

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Ghost Rider, Knott’s Berry Farm (IT GOES BACKWARDS DURING HALLOWEEN!)
Looming 118 feet over historic Ghost Town, Ghost Rider is the single-largest attraction in park history and one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. Brave riders enter a mysterious mine, only to be strapped into gold, silver and copper mining cars and sent along 4,533 feet of twisting, unforgiving timber. Highlights of this massive themed white-knuckler include a dramatic, 108-foot initial banked drop, 13 additional drops, sudden dips, banked turns and maximum G-forces of 3.14!
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The Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point, (YES IT’S REALLY THAT TALL!)
Top Thrill Dragster is a behemoth, standing 420 feet above the Cedar Point midways. It opened as the tallest and fastest coaster in the world back in 2003, and riders can’t seem to get enough of this “Top Thrill.”
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X, Six Flags Magic Mountain (THE FIRST DROP FEELS LIKE YOU ARE FALLING OUT OF A BUILDING)
With its 360° rotating seats and head-first, face down drops; X has been one of the most popular thrill rides on the planet. With the redesign, X2 takes you on a journey to a unique and unchartered dimension of extreme only Six Flags Magic Mountain can deliver.

Unlike traditional coasters where trains only parallel the track, X2 sends riders screaming around its 3,600-foot maze of steel track aboard massive wing-shaped trains where the seats extend off of the track to the sides of the vehicle, allowing them to independently rotate you head over heels, forward and backward creating a one-of-a-kind “don’t know what to expect next” sensation. X2 launches the extreme thrills of X into a new dimension with the addition of a light experience that changes with every ride.

We try not to sound self-aggrandizing, but Zapwater is quickly becoming “Chicago’s go-to agency.” When brands are coming to Chicago, it seems lately that one of their first calls is to Zapwater.

Zapwater’s fashion client roster is ever-growing, and the agency was recently hired by UK lifestyle brand Ted Baker to lead and manage the opening of its first Chicago store. Zapwater coordinated the grand opening event where guests mixed, mingled and sipped on TedTinis while checking out the one-of-kind Windy City themed store. Complete with a signature orange carpet and double-decker Brit bus, Ted Baker has found its place in Chicago and won’t be saying “cheerio” anytime soon.

Scoop NYC has also retained Zapwater for upcoming event and communication efforts in Chicago. The iconic New York City boutique offers a highly edited selection of the season’s best fashion items from both internationally acclaimed and young emerging designers. The store has been merchandised as the “Ultimate Closet,” tending to stylish shoppers’ wants and needs, all under one roof. Stay tuned for more details!

Drop Jenn Lake a line at events@zapwater.com if you would like to be added to our VIP mailing list.

In the meantime, here are some upcoming events:

The Arboretum of South Barrington Antiques Market
May 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain or shine)
The Arboretum of South Barrington invites shoppers to explore their Antiques Market, including antique jewelry, home décor, furnishings, fresh flowers, plants, and more in addition to live cooking demonstrations by Whole Foods Market. The market will take place at The Munao Fountain in the middle of the shopping center. Visit http://www.shoptheaboretumsb.com.

The Arboretum of South Barrington Presents “’Uncorked and Untapped”
Monday, May 23 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The Arboretum of South Barrington invites the community to a wine and beer lover’s extravaganza, Uncorked and Untapped. Uncorked and Untapped will take guests on a culinary journey, providing the opportunity to taste cuisine from various restaurant tenants throughout the Arboretum. Along the way, various wine and brewery tastings will be offered, so whether your beverage of choice is a sophisticated wine or a hearty beer, there is something everyone can enjoy!
For tickets go to: http://www.ShoptheArboretumSB.com

Nicky’s Week at RA Sushi
Sunday, May 29 through Saturday, June 4
RA Sushi will host its seventh annual “Nicky’s Week” fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the nation’s top children’s cancer research center. The restaurant and bar will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of a variety of menu items and beverages to St. Jude to help support the hospital’s lifesaving mission. Visit http://www.rasushi.com/nickys-week-2011.

Zapwater client Rasmussen College is a private, regionally accredited college offering career-focused Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees to more than 15,000 students both online and through its network of 21 campuses. Walter Rasmussen founded the College in 1900 with a mission to deliver top-notch educational programs that answer the demands of the growing and ever-changing business environment.

Rasmussen College employs academic professionals that have established themselves as leaders within their industries, demonstrated most recently by the appearance of Rasmussen team members on several of Chicago’s top television programs.

On FOX Chicago, Rasmussen College National Director of Career Development Tamryn Hennessy, offered tips on how to conduct a strategic job search.

Is Twitter the new Facebook for PR pros and their clients? While many say yes, there are plenty of reasons to say no. Facebook has several features that allow companies more personal interaction with their clients and help them achieve their branding goals. Is it time to revamp your company’s Facebook page? Try these five FB features:

1. FBML – Facebook Markup Language allows those will little coding knowledge to simply create greeting pages or customized subpages for their company. Make sure your homepage is intriguing and has something to offer. There’s nothing worse than a FBML page that’s just the company logo.
2. Reviews – Does your company have a product or service? Let your FB fans provide reviews with this simple add-on feature.
3. Notes/Blog – If you don’t have a company blog on your website, why not incorporate one into your Facebook page? Blogs are a great way to establish your brand’s personality and opinions on industry trends or updates.
4. Interact – Sounds easy enough, but how many people actually do this? If you have a confusing or brand new product, offer a virtual tutorial. If you have a new restaurant, offer coupon codes or in-store giveaways for checking in online. The possibilities are endless, but show your fans that you actually care!
5. Photos – Sure it’s a Facebook fan page stand by, but photos can increase your “likes” significantly. Give your fans the option to tag themselves in your company photos, adding an element of personalization to your page.